16 January 2006

Back from Las Vegas, I was wondering whether I should put up the footage of the keynotes I filmed. They were public performances, in front of tons of journalists, photographers, and cameras. Now that I spotted that videos of keynotes were up on cnet’s news.com, I guess there’s no reason not to publish my own footage (I'll take it down of coruse if I'm given a good reason to do so).

22 September 2005

With all the craze about Keyhole / Google Earth / Google Maps or MSN’s Virtual Earth, it is very easy to forget that cartography isn’t really something new. Navigators, explorers, travellers have been using for over a millenium.

17 September 2005

“ Using satellite images from Google Maps and Google Earth, an Italian computer programmer has stumbled upon the remains of an ancient villa. Luca Mori was studying maps of the region around his town of Sorbolo, near Parma, when he noticed a prominent, oval, shaded form more than 500 metres long. It was the meander of an ancient river, visible because former watercourses absorb different amounts of moisture from the air than their surroundings do.

His eye was caught by unusual 'rectangular shadows' nearby. Curious, he analysed the image further, and concluded that the lines must represent a buried structure of human origin. Eventually, he traced out what looked like the inner courtyards of a villa.

Mori, who describes the finding on his blog, Quellí Della Bassa, contacted archaeologists, including experts at the National Archaeological Museum of Parma. They confirmed the find. At first it was thought to be a Bronze Age village, but an inspection of the site turned up ceramic pieces that indicated it was a Roman villa.

"Mori's research is interesting in its approach," says Manuela Catarsi Dall'Aglio, an archaeologist at the National Archaeological Museum of Parma. He says the find may be similar to a villa the museum is currently excavating at Cannetolo di Fontanellato, which was found during the construction of a high-speed rail network. "Only a scientific, archeological dig will tell," he adds.

The local authorities will have to approve any archaeological digs before they can take place.”

29 June 2005

Just got the email below in my inbox. It's great, I loved Google's Keyhole, I guess I'll like their new name ;). And I'm starting a new category on Maps...

Here goes:

Dear Rodrigo,

Today, we are announcing some exciting news. We are releasing a public
beta of Google Earth (free), Google Earth Plus, and Google Earth Pro.
As a Keyhole LT/NV subscriber, you receive access to Google Earth
Plus, the upgraded version of the software.

Why Google Earth Plus?
Google Earth Plus features built in Google search, driving directions,
and 3D buildings in 38 US cities. Additionally, Google Earth Plus
includes these new features:

[lots of stuff]

We hope you'll enjoy Google Earth Plus. We are also happy to announce that we are automatically extending your subscription, set to expire on 6/3/07, for one additional year free of charge.